Portable cold pack case for carrying medicine and medical accessories

ABSTRACT

A portable cold pack case for carrying temperature sensitive medicines that are required to be refrigerated and for carrying related medical accessories for use in conjunction with these medicines. The case includes a clamshell housing having a fabric cover and including a pair side faces and a binder. The side faces are connected to the binder and separately hinged along the opposing side edges of the binder. A zipper extends around the edges of the side faces for defining and enclosing an interior space for the case within the housing. One or more sheets of refreezable refrigerant cubes that are encapsulated in clear plastic are mounted inside of the case. A removable panel including a pocket and straps for securing medical articles is releaseably attached to one of the inside surfaces of the case. An inner layer of thermal insulation having a flap of material formed into an insulating wall extends along and wraps around the interior periphery of the case. The refrigerant cubes on the ice sheets are encapsulated in a transparent material and are visible when said case is open to provide a pleasing appearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable cold pack cases forconveniently carrying temperature sensitive medicines and the like in arefrigerated state along with the accessories required to properly usesuch articles.

Many medications must be maintained at a certain temperature or within acertain temperature range. If the temperatures of these medications arenot maintained and controlled their effectiveness may be diminished orthey may even change sufficiently so as to pose a health risk.Medications whose temperature must be maintained include insulin, andcertain antibiotics, allergy serums, vaccines, benzodiazepines, andothers. In particular, insulin, which must be administered daily orseveral times per day to diabetics, must be maintained at a temperaturelower than about 86 degrees Fahrenheit; and if the temperature ofinsulin is allowed to exceed 86 degrees Fahrenheit its use can becomeunsafe.

Because of the need to have these medicines both readily available foruse yet maintained at or below a fixed temperature, a variety ofdifferent types of temperature controlled carrying cases and packageshave been available in the past. However, many have involved placingspecial cooling packages in conventional coolers which are bulky andawkward to carry. Carrying cases have also been available that useactive cooling elements such as Peltier cooling, however, these devicesare generally complex and expensive and usually need to be plugged intoan electrical outlet in order to maintain temperature.

Several existing U.S. patents describe examples of temperature controlmedicine carrying cases that may be considered to be representative ofthe related prior art including U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,793 to Ehmann, U.S.Pat. No. 4,738,364 to Yeager, S., U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,223 to MacPhersonet al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,968 to Grabowski, U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,570 toLustig and U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,133 to Keeter et al. U.S. Pat. No.4,429,793 to E. G. Ehmann discloses a pocket-sized traveling case forstoring insulin. The case includes thermally insulated front and backcovers pivotally attached to each other by a central binder. The casemay be opened and closed by a zipper. The inside of the back cover isprovided with an elastic upper strap formed into a pair of loops, whichcan receive insulin bottles, and an elastic lower strap which holds acontainer of freezing material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,364 to Yeager discloses a portable medicineprotector for maintaining the temperature of medicine stored inside ofthe protector. The protector comprises a hollow walled container thathas a cavity formed therein. The container is filled with a freezableliquid. A cavity is formed inside of the container for receivingmedicine. An outer casing is disposed around the container. The outercasing includes a layer of pliable foam insulating material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,223 to MacPherson et al. discloses a portablethermoelectric cooling medicine kit. The medicine in the kit is held invials that cooled by a Peltier heat pump in thermal contact with thevials. The kit further includes medical supplies and components that areVelcro-attached to the lining of the kit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,968 to Grabowski discloses a portable cold pack forcold storage and transporting of medicinal vials placed on a holder. Thecold pack has a hollow, thin-walled housing and a base having a socketdepression therein for receiving the holder. The hollow walls of thehousing contain a refreezable liquid for providing cooling.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,570 to Lustig discloses a traveling bag for carryingtemperature sensitive medications, such as insulin, that includes asensor monitoring the interior temperature and an exterior displayshowing the temperature so measured. The interior of the bag includes acompartment for storing medications, an assembly for holding insulininjection pens and a compartment for holding a container of freezingmaterial.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,133 to Keeter et al discloses a temperaturecontrolled medicine carrying case having an insulated housing havingfront and back covers, interior compartments and straps for holdingmedicines and medical articles and a zipper closure. The carrying caseincludes a pouch for holding a suitable refrigerant material that canfrozen prior to use of the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a portable cold pack case for carryingmedicines that are required to be kept in a refrigerated state andassociated medical accessories. The case includes a clamshell housingincluding a pair of side faces and a binder. The side faces are hingedalong the opposing side edges of the binder and a zipper extends aroundthe edges of the side faces for enclosing an interior space within thehousing and case. A first ice sheet including refrigerant cubes ismounted on the inner side of the first side face and a second ice sheetincluding refrigerant cubes is mounted on the inner side of the secondside face. A removable panel including a pocket and straps for securingmedical articles including medicines and the like is removeably attachedto one of the interior surfaces of one of said faces within saidinterior space of said housing. The side faces include an inner layer ofthermal insulation having a flap of material formed into an insulatingwall extending along the inner sides of the periphery of the case. Therefrigerant cubes on the ice sheets are encapsulated in a transparentmaterial and are visible to provide a pleasing appearance when the caseis open. The case includes and is protected by an exterior covering ofnylon fabric while transparent liners extending over and protect the icesheets.

It is can object of the present invention to provide an improvedportable cold pack case for carrying medicines and medical accessoriesthat is compact, convenient and easy to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cold packcase that has a pleasing visual appearance featuring visible refrigerantcubes when the interior of the case is open to view.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a cold packcase that allows the medicine and medical articles to be stored on apanel that can be removed from the case and used outside the case ortransferred to a different freshly frozen case.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cold packcase that has a simple design including a thermal insulation layer thatwraps around the interior space of the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides an elevated perspective view of the portable cold packcase for carrying medicines and medical accessories in accordance withthe present invention showing the case in its closed configuration.

FIG. 2 provides an elevated perspective view of the case shown in FIG. 1for carrying medicines and medical accessories in accordance with thepresent invention showing the case in its open configuration with itsinterior open to view.

FIG. 3 provides a plan view of the storage panel for use with the caseshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for carrying medicines and medical accessories inaccordance with the present invention illustrating the storage featuresof the case.

FIG. 4 provides a plan view of the back side of the panel shown in FIG.3 and the inner side of the back face of the case illustrating how thepanel is removeably mounted onto the back face of the case in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the case along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1showing the internal construction of the case in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a portable case 10 for carrying medications andmedical supplies is shown in its closed position and includes a clamshell housing 12 having a front face 14 and a back face 16 that pivotaround fabric hinges 20 and 22 on opposing side edges of a centralbinder 18 that connects the two faces together. The case 10 includes awide-band zipper 28 that is attached to and runs along the outerperimeters of the faces 14 and 16 and binder 18 and acts as a closureand forms an enclosing panel with respect to the interior of the casedefined by the housing 12. The case also includes a canvas carryingstrap 30 and latch 32 attached to the outside of the binder 18. Theouter sides of the faces 14 and 16 and binder 18 are covered by a layer34 of durable nylon fabric. The face 16 includes a small accessorypocket 38 with a zipper on the exterior of the face 16. The case 10 hasa compact design and size suitable for storage in a briefcase, a purseor the pocket of a large coat.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the portable case 10 is shown with the zipper28 unzipped and the faces 14 and 16 pivoted into an open position aroundthe binder 18 so that the interior space of the case 10 is open to view.The inner sides 44 and 46 of the faces 14 and 16 of the case 10 are openfor access and use. The inner side 44 of the front face 14 includes anice sheet 50 having a plurality of refrigerant filled cubes 52 deployedin rows 54 and permanently attached and built into the front face 14 ofthe case 10. The ice sheet 50 is mounted over a thin sheet 56 of thermalinsulation and is covered by a transparent plastic liner 58 that can beeasy cleaned. The refrigerant cubes 52 are visible to the user wheneverthe case 10 is open. The sheet 56 of thermal insulation is folded alongthe edges of the ice sheet 50 to form a flap 55 of material runningalong the periphery of the inner side 44 of the case 10 that functionsas an insulating wall for the interior space of the case 10. The innerside 46 of the back face 16 includes a storage panel 60 for retainingmedicines and medical accessories that is releaseably attached to theback face 16 of the case 10 on top of a second ice sheet 70 (not shownin FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 3, the storage panel 60 includes a pocket 62 madeof web material for retaining medicines and medical accessories such asneedles, alcohol swabs and bandages, a cinched elastic strap 64 formedinto loops for retaining syringes and medicine bottles such as insulindoses, and a thinner elastic strap 66 for miscellaneous use. The panel60 is covered with nylon fabric extending over a rigid planar plasticplate and is gathered and attached at the seams 68.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the inner side 46 of the back face 16underneath the panel 60 includes an ice sheet 70 having a plurality ofrefrigerant filled cubes 72 permanently attached and built into the face16 of the case 10. The ice sheet 70 is mounted over a sheet 76 ofthermal insulation and is covered by a transparent plastic liner 78 thatcan be easy cleaned. The refrigerant cubes 72 are visible when the caseis open and the storage panel 60 is removed. The sheet 76 of thermalinsulation is folded along the edges of the ice sheet 70 to form a flap75 of material running along the periphery of the inner side 46 of thecase 10 that functions as an insulating wall for the interior space ofthe case 10. Straps 80 having hook and loop constructions such asVelcro™ material along their surfaces and are adhered onto the liner 78over the ice sheet 70. Matching hook and loop straps 82 are adhered ontothe back 84 of the storage panel 60 whereby the panel can be removeablyattached to the inner side 46 of the back face 16.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the case 10 is covered by the fabric layer 34which extends around the outside of the case including the exterior ofthe faces 14 and 16 and binder 18. The faces 14 and 16 and binder 18include rigid reinforcing plates 94, 96 and 98 which help define theform of the case 10 and may be comprised out of material providing afurther degree of thermal insulation. The sheets 56 and 76 of thermalinsulation extend from the faces 14 and 16 into the binder 18 and arepart of a larger whole sheet 90 which extends around the case 10. Thesheets 56 and 76 also include the flaps 55 and 75 that wraps around andforms an insulating wall that helps to provide further thermalinsulation to the interior of the case 10. The ice sheets 50 and 70include base layers 102 and 104 and the transparent top layers 106 and108 defining the cubes 52 and 72 in which refrigerant material such asdistilled water or brine solution having a lower freezing point isencapsulated. The transparent liners 58 and 78 run across and over thetop side of the ice sheets 50 and 70. The panel 60 is removeablyattached by the hook and loop straps 80 and 82 to the liner 78 and thetop of the ice sheet 70. The zipper 28 extends around the outer edge ofthe case 10. The fabric layer 34, insulation layer 90 and zipper 28 aregathered to, sewn together and secured at the seams 110.

The portable case 10 provides a compact cold pack for storing medicinesand medical accessories so they can be carried from place to place andquickly and conveniently accessed. The case 10 may be placed in thefreezer compartment of a refrigerator to freeze the refrigerant cubesand taken out when needed with a minimum of effort in preparing the case10 for use. The panel 60 including any medical articles stored on it maybe conveniently removed from the case 10 at any time and may be replacedinto the case 10 or a different case including freshly frozenrefrigerant at any time as required for use or to continuously maintainmedicines in a refrigerated state. Once the panel 60 is loaded into thecase 10 the case may be conveniently stored in a briefcase or coatpocket so as to be inconspicuous but ready for use.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thespecific embodiments described above, it should be recognized thatchanges may be made in the form and details of the invention asdescribed without departing from spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe claims.

1. A portable cold pack case for carrying medicines that are required tobe kept in a refrigerated state, comprising: a) a clamshell housingincluding first and second insulated side faces, a binder connected tosaid faces at hinges along its opposing side edges and a zipperextending around the edges of said faces for enclosing an interior spacewithin said housing; b) a first ice sheet comprising a plurality ofrefrigerant cubes mounted on the inner side of said first side face anda second ice sheet comprising a plurality of refrigerant cubes mountedon the inner side of said second side face; c) a removable panelincluding a pocket for securing medicines articles to said panel; and d)an attachment for detachably securing said panel onto the inner side ofone of said faces within said interior space of said housing.
 2. Theportable case of claim 1, wherein: said side faces include an innerlayer of thermal insulation having a flap of material formed into aninsulating wall extending along the inner sides of the periphery of thecase.
 3. The portable case of claim 1, wherein: said refrigerant cubesare encapsulated in a transparent material and are visible to provide apleasing appearance when said case is open.
 4. The portable case ofclaim 2, wherein: said side faces include an outside covering of nylonfabric and transparent liners extending over said ice sheets.
 5. Theportable case of claim 1, wherein: said attachment comprises a pair ofmatching straps having loop and hook constructions mounted onto said icesheet and the inner side of one of said faces.
 6. The portable case ofclaim 1, wherein: said pocket comprises web material, and said panelalso includes a plurality of straps for securing additional medicalarticles.
 7. The portable case of claim 1, wherein: said refrigerantcubes are formed into rows and are visible to provide a pleasingappearance when said case is open.
 8. A portable cold pack case forcarrying medicines and medical accessories that are required to be keptin a refrigerated state and medical accessories, comprising: a) firstand second insulated side faces and a binder connected together athinges along their side edges and a closure extending around theexterior edges of said faces for enclosing an interior space within saidcase; b) one or more ice sheets comprising a plurality of refrigerantcubes mounted on the interior side of at least one of said first sidefaces; c) an inner layer of thermal insulation extending along said sidefaces and binder and including a flap of material formed into aninsulating wall extending along the inner sides of the periphery of thecase adjacent to said closure; d) a removable panel including a pocketand one or more straps or sleeves for securing medicines or medicalaccessories; and e) an attachment for detachably securing said panelonto the interior side of one of said one or more ice sheets within saidinterior space of said case.
 9. The portable case of claim 8, wherein:said closure includes a wide band of fabric and a zipper.
 10. Theportable case of claim 8, wherein: said refrigerant cubes areencapsulated in a transparent material and are visible to provide apleasing appearance when said housing is open.
 11. The portable case ofclaim 10, wherein: said pocket comprises web material, and said panelalso includes a plurality of straps for securing additional medicalarticles.
 12. The portable case of claim 8, wherein: said attachmentcomprises a pair of matching straps having loop and hook constructionsmounted onto one of said ice sheets and the inner side of one of saidfaces.